Business Leaders Make the Case to Lawmakers About the Economic Benefits of LGBT Non-Discrimination Protections

Last week, Florida Competes coalition members met with lawmakers to discuss how important LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination protections had been to their companies and the positive impact such protections could have on Florida’s economy.

“For the economic benefit of our home state, Florida needs to embrace the best practices of the largest employers in the country, for the state’s own economic and strategic planning. Time after time we see the most successful and innovative companies enacting anti-discrimination policies to respect and protect their employees; all of their employees. It is overdue for our legislative process to catch up with this kind of respectful and inclusive thinking, and hear the bill. Silence on this issue speaks volumes.”

Tonnison as well as executives from Carlton-Fields, CSX, and Florida Blue spoke at length to lawmakers about the positive effects non-discrimination protections have had on their companies. Currently, 82% of the nation’s largest companies have adopted comprehensive non-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation and gender identity.

Coalition members also spent time debunking some of the more pernicious myths that are being circulated by opponents of the FCWA, the main one being that these protections would increase frivolous lawsuits.

There is absolutely no evidence for that claim, either in Florida or in the 18 states across the nation that have such protections.

The same pattern holds for Florida municipalities that have their own non-discrimination laws. That currently includes 12 counties and 30 cities and towns throughout the state, covering 60% of Floridians.

Right now, a bipartisan group of 50 lawmakers and more than 70% of Floridians support the FCWA, and it’s time for elected leadership to get on board and give this legislation the committee hearing it deserves.

The Florida Competes coalition, which includes 10 Fortune 500 companies—like AT&T, CSX, Darden Restaurants, and Marriott—and more than 450 local businesses on board won’t stop making the case to lawmakers until they do.